The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-11-24
BROADSIDE FOR BROADSIDE.

EDITOR BULLETIN:-N you
kindly allow me space in your valu-
able paper to reply TO the "broad-
side" fired by "lachtsman" at the
Conquest in your issue of the 18th
inst, and who seems to have been
rather disguised at the part played
by tue pinnace of that ship, in the
1st Yacht race on His Majesty's
birthday. ..
"Yachtsman's" experience, or
knowledge of the British Navy does
not amount to much, if he does
possess any, at any rate, as regards
boats and boatsailing.
Our American cousins are far
ahead of us when it comes TO
in boats. English boats speed
are not built for speed, but
for service, which means fair
''all round" boat, good at nothing
in particular, but fit to do ''any
work it is possible for boat to do.
And the boat which competed in the
regatta is one of class of boats
built specially for heavy work, and
has great carrying capacity" She
is the principal boat in the Con-
quest in case of an accident, where
the boats would have to be taken to,
and has to carry so men in such a
case. Yet she is only 80 feet long
and 9 feet beam, is fitted with q
mainsail and jib and gaff topsail.
None of her canvas sets outside of
the boat, which is strictly adhered
to rule in the British Navy, in all
boats, so that in reason, speed in
sailing cannot be expected, pitted
against such well fitted sailing boats
as our Yankee cousins possess. Yet
these boats could be made sail very
well by altering the present "rig.
and giving them more canvas; but
then this means lot of expense,
which is certainly not palatable
when only o $50 prize can be cap
tured, as $3.50 would not fit out such
boat. Love of sport Is character
istic of the British Navy, but a man
can't empty his pocket to fit himself
for a competition where he knows
he has ''no show"
Thinking to benefit his boat, the
officer who sailed the Conquest's pin
mace had an extra "cloth'' put in
her mainsail, which necessitated the
"fsh" Spoken Of by Yachtsman as
an "oar-handle", to carry out the
head of the sail the two feet extra
given by the "cloth." 1t was oaly
decided few days before the regat-
Ia to put in the extra cloth, so that
there was not time to fix a new gaff,
nor, in my opinion, was it necessary
as the sail had to be altered directly
after the regatta to ''service" size.
Again, the "burnt-pea-soup-color-
ed sails" is the natural color for any
sail made of flax. 1t is an express
sion which shows that "Yachtsman"
is not acquainted with the different
materials sails are made of. In the
British Navy only flax is used for
all sails. The American ships boats
are fitted with cotton canvas, hence
their wilderness.
The Conquest's boat for ballast
carried six 18-gallon casks of water
and had ten men, certainly not
enough, but then the state of the
weather on that day was not expect
ed, or perhaps little more would
have been taken in, only a little ;
because by sinking the boat any
more would be only making her
more dangerous in heavy sea by
taking away her !'freeboard,"
most desirable thing in sea-way,
and the boat had good stability"
as 1t was, considering the pressure
on her canvas.
just a few more words about the
Conquest's boat putting back. The
officer sailing her, in my opinion,
rightly decided 10 put back, be-
cause the responsibility on his
shoulder was great, considering it
most favorable weather for an acct